I have had my xj for a few years now, and it has served me well. I have always dreamed of lifting it and making it my own, but being a student my jeep funds are always low. Well I have been working and I think this summer I want to lift my jeep and have some fun with it. Obviously I would love to dump thousands in it and have the dreeam jeep, and hopefully I will get there eventually.

It is primarily a DD, and I want it to look good, that is important to me. About once every other month I go on wheeling trips, sometimes desert trips and sometimes trail rides. Not much rockcrawling really, more mud and hills.

To start, I have a 95 xj country, 4.0, automatic. I have currently beddlined the bumpers, put in a sound system, painted the wheels, IRO catback, put on a nice set of A/T tires and built a little toolbox for storage in the back. The stock suspension is looking pretty pitiful, the back is lower than the front a slight bit, and it needs refreshing. Overall it has pretty good paint, it hasalmost no rust other than some exhaust surface rust, and it has 150k on it.

I would love to do a 4.5" lift, but the thing is I want to keep the tires I have now since they dont have many miles on them and they have an awesome warranty. For starters, how ridiculous are 30" tires gonna look on a 4.5 lift if I keep the stock flares? Also I know it is highly recommended against, but the RC 4.5" with new leaf spring pack and everything is appealing to my bank account. If i go with 3" I am cool with a nicer lift, I want to stay around the $700 area for suspension. I also want to do the supporting mods that will make it drive on the freeway with no problem hopefully, what I have gathered is that a SYE kit is good, and a steering stabilizer. I do have to do freeway driving.

As far as front bumper, I plan on making one myself. I will need to research how to incorporate tow points and Dring mounting points. Rear bumper probably won't happen for a while, because when I do that I want to go all out with a tire carrier. Something else I really want to do is a roofrack and lights. I might make one of those though. I also want rocksliders in case I get in over my head on a trail, but I plan on being safe.

My main concern is drivability, I will be driving cross country twice a year. I really think the 3" will be more reasonable, but I think the 4.5 would look cooler and do better in Florida mud. What do you guys think? I was looking at maybe Rustys " kit, RE 3.5", and other such things.I know there are a billion posts, which is why i put this in general chat, it is low priority and I am looking for some current input on the different qualities. I don't really want a hardcore rock crawler, I would categorize it more of an overlander build. I plan on keeping a stock engine for reliability, plus it makes enough power for a jeep in my opinion. What sort of reliability mods should I do before Iift? I plan on ujoints and then replacing suspension bushings as I get new suspension parts, I also kinda want to do motor mounts.

Again, sorry for the overkill on the lift questions. I know its everywhere on the forum, but this is kinda my pre- jeep build thread. I just want some opinions, thanks guys